UNMIK Press Briefing: 23 April 2001

UNMIK Spokesman Michael Keats
 

UNMIK Spokesman Michael Keats

Robin Cook in Kosovo

The British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook will be visiting Kosovo tomorrow. He will be visiting the British forces base and will be having separate meetings with the members of IAC and will also meet the SRSG and COMKFOR … Mr Cook will be in this auditorium for a media conference at 1630.

Tax collection points

Just a brief note on the question of the tax collection points in Kosovo and the protests against them that have been going on in Mitrovica.  UNMIK's position has not changed on this.

As has been pointed out previously the establishment of the tax collection points is entirely in accordance with the revenue arrangements for the Kosovo consolidated budget…. and all residents of Kosovo benefit from these revenues.

The SRSG is meeting this afternoon with the representative of the FRY Government Committee on Kosovo, Mr Momcolio Trajkovic, to clarify  issues relating to the tax collection points.

SRSG to visit Brussels

I should also point out that Kosovo is very much on the NAC agenda this week and the SRSG and the members of all communities from the KTC will be visiting Brussels on Friday.

IOM media event

The IOM , in cooperation with thee local NGO's, has brought out a British DJ to play music at the Radio Club in Pristina as part of the drug awareness campaign "Why let drugs chose your dreams…you are worth more." The disc jockey, Nicky Holloway, will be introduced tomorrow at the Grand Hotel at 11.00 am, and all members of the media are invited.

Questions

Q: One suspect in the bomb blast in pristine was arrested. Can you give us more details about this suspect? Is he a Kosovo citizen?

MK: All that will have to come from the police. They did put out a statement earlier and anything further on that they hope they might be able to put something further out today. But please check with them later. They are aware of the interest of course and hopefully you will have something.

Q: Is UNMIK Police and UNMIK staff on duty in Northern parts of Mitrovica?

MK: UNMIK staff is not. They weren't yesterday, whether today they have been able to move around, I don't know. UNMIK Police were on foot patrol but vehicles were not able to move freely and we just hope it gets better.

Q: Do you have any other information about the legal framework?

MK: At this stage no. There is continuing meetings with the committee. They met on Saturday. I don't know when they are going to meet, either today or tomorrow. But it will certainly be going on and we hope to finish as soon as possible.
 
Q: Some suspected members of UCK were arrested last month in south of Kosovo. Their imprisonment has been extended by two months.

MK: I don't have any further information.